By Maggie McNinch and McRae Walker, Features Editor/Opinions Editor 

Six to one. The final count on a vote between “educational integrity” and physical safety. Despite a worldwide pandemic, it still appears that more people care about standardized testing than children dying.

That’s what the Dare County Schools Board of Education seemed to indicate during Thursday’s specially called meeting to discuss three options for the remainder of the school year: Keep the current hybrid plan, bring back all students four days a week, or have everyone go five days a week.

With only seven weeks left before another pestilence-filled summer, a terrific idea was just passed into reality. Much like prohibition, it was something that few, if any, wanted. Starting Tuesday, April 13, all DCS students will be together in classrooms four days a week.

“You’ve just adjusted to very limited social contact, so why wouldn’t you want to go back to an overwhelmingly active class structure similar to prison?” said no one ever. “It’s a terrific idea: I mean, it worked well last time!”

Last time we tried to change the entire in-person structure with little forewarning, we had three weeks before COVID struck and we returned home to our beds. The implications of doing the same steps with a twice-as-difficult plan don’t seem all that promising.

Compare that to what we have at the moment: a schedule that is tested, adjusted and sort of working. Can’t we try to keep this going for just a bit longer?

For those who choose to stay home for their personal safety over an archaic system of learning from just after the Industrial Revolution, you get little-to-no learning at all! Enjoy sitting awkwardly in a Google Meet while the rest of your classmates wallow in their shared conversations, all the while spreading a deadly plague. 

Those who are at school among the diseased, however, can enjoy four painful days of indoor brain-bashing while the weather gets increasingly nicer – and their situation gets increasingly depressing.

But it’ll be OK. After all, who actually thinks this is going to last, anyway? Might as well let the virtual students gamble on how many weeks it’ll be until those in the building join them once more in quarantine.

For those of you who defended the safety of students within the recent Board meeting, our sincerest thanks. But for those who want to rush right back into the world that led to this mess … we hope you don’t trip on the way there.

What do you think about Thursday’s decision? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

Senior McRae Walker can be reached at [email protected].
Junior Maggie McNinch can be reached at [email protected].